AN: I do not own Harry Potter.

Ok, you don't have to answer, but you know when you suddenly know what to write after you've just given up trying? Yeah, that happened.

Death Speaks

Harry was struggling with his books when he got poked in the shoulder. Hermione had already left the library table, and was speaking to the librarian as she waited for him. Looking around he didn't see anyone around him, so he finished packing his books and supplies into his bag. Then, he got poked again. Again not seeing anybody, he reached for whatever was poking him, and realized he was holding a finger.

The finger quickly withdrew.

Harry frustratedly gestured with his head towards the door as he picked up his bag and headed towards Hermione, whose conversation had just ended, and was tucking her library book into her bag along with all of the others.

"Any books being taken out today, young man?"

"Yes, please. Just this one."

"The Wizard In The World, British Edition. It's due the day before the last day before winter break. Don't damage it, young man."

"Yes, Ms. Pince."

Harry and Hermione left the library. However Harry might want to believe that the invisible poker was no longer in the vicinity, he was fairly sure he was being followed. Indeed, he felt a light fluttering touching his back and left shoulder occasionally and once there was a poke as well.

Finally, Harry couldn't put it off. He pushed his glasses back up, and then turned to Hermione and said, "Sorry, I need to talk to somebody. Will you please come with me to the Astronomy tower, and just wait out of sight?"

"Why?"

"I'll tell you later?"

Hermione nodded. Here in the open hallway of stone that echoed horribly, even when sparsely covered in tapestries to help prevent the drafts, was not the place to be telling anything remotely sensitive.

The two passed the time walking the hallways to the Astronomy tower in light silence or chatter. It seemed in no time at all that they were at the Astronomy tower.

"One of the good things about no classes being held here during the day time is that the main classroom is empty usually."

"I would guess and say that during supper, there would be a few couples taking advantage of that to have a somewhat romantic date at the castle."

"Probably."

"Harry, are you sure about this?"

Harry, not sure what "this" was, said, "You mean talking at the tower? Yes. I also want somebody to know where I am."

Hermione, looking concerned, rubbed her hair out of her face and said, "All right, then Harry, but know that if you're not down in five minutes, I'm coming up to find you."

Harry gave a half shrug while looking apologetic, and replied, "I'll do my best."

Harry walked up the stairs of the tower all the while feeling the fluttering feeling behind him. Thankfully, the top of the tower was empty. He walked half way across the floor before turning around and facing his follower.

All at once, Death became visible. Having met the man and his wife before, Harry recognized him, and also realized why Death had done the whole poking routine. Death had no way of contacting him at this point in time other than physically approaching him. Death's mail system only worked if you were not working on the same plane of existence that the living mortals inhabited, and so did not reach Harry.

"Harry," started Death, who then paused before continuing, "I need to speak to you about your future before you get even more invested in becoming the ruler of Great Britain. Before, I didn't talk to you about it, because you were thinking of just putting another leader in charge of Great Britain and changing a few laws. Your followers are all set to put you on the currently empty governmental throne over Wizarding Great Britain now, and that cannot happen. The problem with that is that you are not only immortal, you are a baby minor god. Many centuries ago, when Rome conquered England and the parts of Great Britain, many gods of the time perished or were cut off from interacting with the living with their groups of followers. Some survived and could change a little to match the beliefs of conquering soldiers mixing with the remnants, and five were cursed to become mortal with the doom that they and all of their families, if they should have some, would be mortal until a certain set of circumstances happened. The ones required happened to your parents before your conception, granting you godhood even upon conception."

"What?"

"Harry, I know this is a shock. However, as the one god that already has a connection with you, I am going to be teaching you as much as I can. However, besides what you have naturally, you are picking up one more realm."

"How... What... How many... No..."

"Harry, breathe. In, 1, 2, 3, 4, out, 1, 2, 3, 4. In, 1, 2, 3, 4, out, 1, 2, 3, 4. Deep breaths, good, calm. Are you able to think now?"

"Yeah. Can you tell me how I am connected to you? Is the story of the three brothers real?"

"The story is half right. Like with all human retellings, there are the occasional changes that takes it from the original to a similar story with elements of the original story. Remember that I told you that five gods were cursed? One of those families later helped me, and I granted them three objects. One provided god-like strength as well as being greater than any wand made. One allowed you to speak to the dead to receive their wisdom, and also granted free passage Underhill if ever attempted. One hid the wearer, and granted the bearer a limited number of deaths before becoming immortal as a bird in the human plane. If those three are gathered to one person, that gives them immortality, but with the burden of becoming a psychopomp. Of course, becoming a psychopomp was happily erased from the story and those that hunted them became less sympathetic to those in there surroundings and more fanatical in their ideologies. However, that doesn't mean that I have no control over where they go, and can keep those that do not have the right mindset and beliefs to become a psychopomp of mine. If I could not handle living with them, or they are not dedicated enough, or they decide that collecting the three is no longer the goal, I can keep things moving so that the rest are not found by those individuals."

"I have two out of three."

"Yes, you do."

"Do you have other collections out there? You said that the three items were gifts to that one family. Are there others?"

"Yes, but they do not apply to you or Great Britain at all. Yes, I do have other psychopomps in other countries or regions."

"How am I a god?"

"Your parents were from two of the cursed gods."

"Will I suddenly become more?"

"No, that is a process I will teach you."

"I won't have to jump onto my pyre?"

"Uh, no. You are not Achilles."

"How do I know what kind of god I am?"

"That requires a lot of meditation, which is something you can get started on, but also something that I will teach you."

"How do I tell people that I am a god? I can't just say it, because those that did in the past without back-up were all fakes."

"One of these days, I will come down and help you. Would you mind if my wife came too?"

"No, that would be great."

"I will let her know."

"Good bye for now."

"Good bye."

With that, Death disappeared.

At this, Hermione came out from the hiding spot under the stairs.

"Harry...?" she cried.

"Yes, Hermione?" replied Harry, feeling very awkward.

"Who was that?"

"Death."

"The god Death?"

"Yeah."

"What did he want?"

"We're going to have to change some plans, Hermione, because I won't be as human soon."

"Why?"

"I can't. Sorry, Hermione, apparently today was an introduction? There weren't too many details."